What exactly is the role of the love interest in a superhero story? Is she just the emotional stakes for the hero, or is she a cynical ploy to vouch for his heterosexuality? Can she ever be anything more? I talk with On The Page screenwriting guru Pilar Alessandra, and screenwriters Craig Fernandez and Carr D'Angelo, who runs Earth 2, a comic book store in Los Angeles. It turns out even male fans get frustrated when their favorite heroes tackle villains head on but flee romantic relationships.